Poland deplores death of Palestinian minister

Palestinian security officials carry the coffin of Palestinian Authority minister Ziad Abu Ein during his funeral in the West Bank town of Ramallah, 11 December 2014. EPA/ATEF SAFADI

The minister without portfolio, who was head of the Palestinian Anti-Wall and Settlement Commission, collapsed on Wednesday after being manhandled in a West Bank village near Ramallah.

Ziad Abu Ein had been taking part in an olive tree planting ceremony as part of an initiative to draw attention to confiscations of Palestinian land, when the clash with Israeli forces occurred.

''We deplore the tragic death of Ziad Abu Ein,'' a statement released by Poland's foreign ministry affirmed.

''Our thoughts are with his relatives, to whom we would like to pass our deepest condolences.

''We call on the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to actively work to establish the circumstances of this tragic incident and refrain from further acts of violence.

''We trust that the two sides will make every effort to deescalate the current tensions. ''

Vast crowds attended the funeral for Ziad Abu Ein was held on Thursday.

An Israeli officer quoted by Jersusalem Post said that ''we see on footage from the incident a push [delivered by a border police officer].

“I say this with reservation as we are still investigating it, he added. (nh)